Hudson River Watertrail News The Newsletter of the Hudson River
Watertrail Association, Inc. Box 110, 245 Eighth Avenue, New York,
NY 10011 Volume 2010, No. 1 www.hrwa.org/
Bannermans Today
Photos and Text by Thom Johnson
Time has passed and tides have shifted much since Francis Bannerman
VI built his island arsenal. For more than 60 years the castle was
used as it was designed, as storage for the Francis Bannerman and
Sons Co. military sur- plus outfitters. But by 1967, when the
island, harbor and all the buildings were sold with the help of the
Rockefellers and the Jackson Hole Preserve, all that remained was
the damaged and unwanted stock festering in buildings that were
well past their prime. But this Hudson River landmark still stood
tall and inspired many to paddle or row to the island to explore
and to learn about a Scotsman’s castle at the northern gate to the
Hudson Highlands.
My own story of discovery began with my interest in the New York
Central Railroad and the use of the castle in one of its ads. One
particular ad that caught my eye showed the 20’th Century Ltd.
along with the castle. At the time I lived in Dobbs Ferry, NY, and
I soon took a trip up the river to observe for myself the eclectic
building looming on that island. That was around 40 years ago and,
to my plea- sure, I am still learning about Mr. Bannerman and his
castle.
In 1993 I first meet Neil Caplan who had recently discovered the
castle when he had been given a book about the Hudson Valley. The
image that he saw in the book was by local artist, John Gould, and
it inspired Neil to take his own trip up the river to see the cas-
tle. Soon after we met, and with the help of many other likewise
thinking
HRWA/Bannermans Benefit 10/03/09
Bob Huszar
The day started with a very dire phone call that only half woke
me.
“There’s a 96% chance of severe and dangerous thunderstorms with
predic- tions of squall-like wind gusts. We’re going to have to
cancel.”
“Ugh!” I muttered, or something equally incoherent, as I tried to
focus my sleep- numbed brain. “I understand! I’ll send you a
refund.”
“Who was that?” From a bemused Susan, watching as I stumbled around
the motel room, heading towards the window.
“That was the sound of 4 people can- celling.” I shook my head as I
opened the drapes.
The sky, in fact, was dark and cloudy; but as I opened the door,
trying to gather a bigger picture, the fresh morn- ing air said it
would clear. Chalk it up to Romanticism, but that hazy morning fog
spoke not of menace, but rather of embellishment and seemed to set
the perfect mood for a paddle to the leg- endary Bannermans
Island.
Okay, the back story! This was the first ever—but hoped to be
annual— HRWA/Bannermans Island Trust fund raiser/social and paddle.
And according to the tide charts, we had fairly favor- able
currents, that was if we were in the water early enough to catch
said
What’s inside Brooklyn Boat House .....................2
Bannermans History ......................8
Sebago Festival ...........................10
Bannermans Castle after the collapse. Photo by Thom Johnson
Continued on page 6
Continued on page 4
[email protected]
[email protected]
Phil Jache
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Tom Potter
The Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse (BBPB) is a new community-based
organization dedicated to human pow- ered boating in the newly
opened Brooklyn Bridge Park. In the summer of 2010 we will offer
public walk-up kaya- king and rowing, as well as on-water training
for our volunteers. For more information about the BBP Boathouse
and how to volunteer, go to: BBPBoathouse.org.
While BBPB itself is new, we’re fortunate to be benefitting from
solid groundwork already laid. Over the past two summers volunteers
from several local boating groups (including the Downtown
Boathouse, Village Community Boathouse, Gowanus Dredgers, LIC
Boathouse, Red Hook Boathouse, and Sebago Canoe Club), many of whom
will be back to get BBPB off to a great start, helped pioneer
public walk-up paddling and rowing in DUMBO Cove. It proved
immensely popular, with at times up to 100 people waiting in line
to get on the water. Now, with the opening of the incredible new
Park just to the south of DUMBO Cove and the Brooklyn Bridge, we
have an opportunity to expand the walk-up program consider- ably
while laying plans for an even more ambitious range of paddling
activities in the future.
For the summer of 2010 we have planned 11 days of walk-up kayaking:
four at the original site at DUMBO Cove, and seven in the new Park.
The Village Community Boathouse will also offer public rowing in
both locations. Together, the two programs should allow hun- dreds,
if not thousands, of our neighbors to get on the water, and to put
them- selves into one of the most visually dra- matic harbor scenes
in the world.
One of the most exciting features of Brooklyn Bridge Park is that
the designers explicitly incorporated the idea of human powered
boating. Much of Brooklyn Bridge Park remains to be built and will
rely on funding that is still
uncertain, but two ramps suitable for small boats are already in
place: a straight ramp between piers 1 and 2, and a unique spiral
ramp between piers 2 and 3. As we gain experience using the ramps,
we may find that we need to modify them to maximize their suit-
ability for our programs, but the simple fact that they were
included in the Park’s design is worth some loud applause. Too
often access to the waterfront does not include access to the
water: here, it does.
Upon completion, the Park’s amenities will include a 5,000 square
foot boat- house to be created by re-purposing a large existing
maintenance shed. During construction we will be operat- ing out of
two 40-foot containers locat- ed between piers 1 and 2 that are
being donated by the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation.
Realistically, it might be several sum- mers before the shed is
actually trans- formed into a haven for small boats. Until then, we
can’t accommodate any private boat storage. Nonetheless, the future
promise of a substantial physical home for our Boathouse is
exciting.
Currently, our kayak program is being given a generous boost
through a donation from the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy. With
their assistance, we’re in the process of purchasing 20 boats and
related gear, which should fill our storage containers and allow us
to pursue a full and vigorous paddling program. However, while that
means we are starting our program fairly well equipped, we will
still need scores of dedicated volunteers to turn these pro- posed
public programs into a reality. Plus, of course, the highly prized,
expe- rienced kayakers, who keep everything running smoothly and
safely. That said, you need no experience simply to help out, as we
will need multiple hands on land as well as on the water to make
our inaugural summer a success.
So, please, join us and have fun as we introduce our neighbors to
their home waters!
contact
[email protected] for more info.
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Chuck Newland
Scott Keller
Charles—Chuck—Newland (Born 11/21/1925, Died 2/8/2010) was an avid
paddler, canoeist, and boat builder. Chuck was a two-time
participant in the Great Hudson River Paddle, including the 2001
inaugural year of the event. Chuck served for two years as a mem-
ber of the HRWA Board of Directors. I remember him as an
enthusiastic pad- dler and boat builder who spoke pas- sionately
about both topics. Chuck always had a ready smile and a wealth of
interesting stories. On the first day of the first Great Hudson
River Paddle he launched a cedar wood strip canoe he had built, but
never had a chance to test on the water. His paddling partner in
the untested canoe was Governor George Pataki. And of course it
paddled perfectly. The photo of the two of them in that beautiful
canoe ran on the front page of the Albany Times Union news- paper.
Several years after Chuck partici- pation in the event he attended
a talk about the event. I will long remember the look on his face
when he heard about the improvements to the trip since 2002,
especially the masseuse! The side of him his paddling friends
didn’t see was that Chuck was a paratrooper in World War II, a
mortgage banking exec- utive, and Commissioner of Economic
Development for the City of Albany. He will be missed
greatly.
The Mayor’s Cup
In its 5th year, the Mayor’s Cup New York City Kayak Championships
is the longest standing kayak race in New York City. The race has
introduced the New York harbor to an international kayaking crowd
as well as being a big draw for the local and regional pad- dlers.
With the advent of the NYC Water trail system it is even easier to
watch the race and have an up close and personal look at racers
from 22 countries and 25 states race around Manhattan for $15,000
in cash. We draw enthusiast paddlers as well as real racer types
and welcome all talent- ed paddlers to come and Take Manhattan By
paddle. visit www. nymayorscup.com for details.
Chuck with Governor Pataki GHRP 2000; talking boats with Andy
Mellion Photos by Mac McPherson
James Cantatore and Kam Truhn battle it out Photo by Jeff
Chen
HRWA/Bannermans Benefit 10/03/09
continued from page 1
currents. The bad part is that I’m a spaz in the morning, partially
because my natural rhythms lean towards the nocturnal, but also due
to me having worked the middle shift at my local hospital for
multiple years. So . . . knowing the struggle of getting some- one
like myself up, loading the boats and driving and hour-plus to Cold
Spring, and having the boats ready to launch with a little extra
time allotted to assist any of the unknown group of paddlers who
may or may not need assistance in their set up and launching …I
opted for the easy way out.
What’s the old saying, “When life gives you lemons, trade them for
limes and make a margarita.” And that’s exactly
what we did. Rather then deal with a frantic, last-minute,
early-morning arriv- al, we elected to turn the whole ordeal into a
mini-vacation, and so drove up leisurely the night before, had a
relaxing dinner and the aforementioned adult beverage, spent the
night in a nearby motel and planned on serenely sleeping till the
last minute, arriving beatifically organized, rather then looking
like someone who just rolled out of bed and couldn’t find their
trousers. And the plan more or less worked, except for the alarming
phone call part.
Arriving early at the put-in, my good feelings were buoyed higher
as a few participants were already present and organizing
themselves. In about twenty minutes, the rest of the participants
all arrived along with a car load of my fel- low guides. Everyone
was exuberant, very competent, and all felt the weather would
cooperate. The pace and mood
accelerated from there, with a smooth group launch and a quick
on-the-water briefing. Nancy Brous was assigned as point; Tom
Galvin volunteered as sweep; and Marcella Baum and myself slid into
the rover positions. The pad- dling was perfect. It was one of the
calmest, most tranquil mornings I have ever seen on the Hudson. And
as hoped, passing between Storm King and Breakneck Ridge, the
clouds and fog led an eerie charm that added to the river’s
mystery.
Our group of guides were almost unnecessary. The island was
surrealisti- cally visible in the distance, and even when it was
momentarily obscured by fog, something in its almost unworldly
visage drew us all straight to it. No compass or chart was
necessary on this one.
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Susan, Bob and Ron at the waterfall
Ron dragging his boat through the mud
Arriving on the south side of the island, we leisurely
paddled—stopping and posing for innumerable photo opps— around to
the new ferry dock that the Trust had built on the north side.
Disembarking from our boats we met the guide who would escort us
about the island. As we scampered up the stairs to the side
entrance of the castle, a lite and warm rain hazed about, giv- ing
everthing a fairy tale luster.
The tour was informative and offered many spectacular vistas of
both the castle and the surrounding mountains and river. I think,
perhaps, of all the group, I was the only one who was a little
disappointed. I kept thinking back to the days when the castle was
simply
abandoned and you could freely roam about the island and photograph
at the pace of your vision, rather then the pacing of a lecture
schedule. I men- tioned this to the guide and he reas- serted the
danger of the ruins, and I suppose in considering the recent col-
lapse of several huge, bone-crushing sections of wall, all his
precautions were well founded.
Returning back to Cold Spring, while a portion of the group pulled
out and pre- pared to return home, a smaller, splin- ter group
clamored for the second half of the trip: a journey to the secret
waterfalls of Constitution Marsh. “Could we make it there?” someone
asked. “Won’t we be running out of water?”
(This owning to the way the Hudson’s ebb tide drains certain
sections of Constitution Marsh, leaving huge expanses of mud
flats.)
I laughed and said, “Not really! But if everyone’s game, we’ll do
it anyway. We may just have to walk a few sections.”
Well, if a picture is worth a thousand words, what are the two gems
on page 4 worth? The remaining group at the falls, minus Margaret
Mann who’s taking the photo; and a great shot of Ron Kleinman—via
Ron’s camera and Susan O’Neill’s eye—coaxing his boat through the
last of the mud, towards the float- able waters that lie
tantalizingly ahead.
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The Bannerman Paddlers, from R to L: Tom Galvin, Brian Haughney
& Kritin Saez, Susan O’Neill, Alex Mindlin, Bob Huszar, Phil
Mindlin, Bob Capurso & daugh-
ter, Jessica, Leola Specht, Marcella Baum, Nancy Brous and an
invisible Ron Kleinman who’s taking the photo.
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Bannermans Today
from page 1
Iindividuals, the Bannerman Castle Trust was formed with the goal
of mak- ing the castle ruins and island trails open to the public
as a historical, edu- cational and recreational site.
Over the years much has been done in order to open the island so
that the public could enjoy it. As trails were cleared and a
landing area for small boats was created, we were able to start
limited tours. The first tours uti- lized rowboats and canoes to
bring people to a landing at the Wee Bay on the south side of the
island. Next, with
the help of local contractor, John Lawrence, a dock was built on
the north side of the island so tour boats could bring larger
groups. As the tours became successful, the trails were enhanced
and the gardens were expanded.
Now that the island was open on a lim- ited basis, I turned my
attention to writ- ing a book about the island and its structures.
I worked with fellow Bannerman Trust guide and board member,
Barbara Gottlock, as co-au- thor. As part of her research she went
to the Hagley Library in Wilmington, Delaware, and while digging
through the Bannerman archives, she found Helen Bannermans planting
lists. Armed with this information she put together a garden
committee under the direction of Donna Blakemore. This new group
worked under the guidance of the Cornell University Master garden-
ers to rebuild the gardens and trails while keeping the island’s
historical integrity in mind. Despite some daunt- ing challenges,
the island took on a renewed look as a historic heritage site. The
ravages of time, tides, and vandal- ism were stunted.
This past year had been very produc- tive. The trail in the center
of the island was cleared so the gardeners could move easily from
the landing to the
Wee Bay, while a large flower bed at the Wee Bay was cut back and
replant- ed. Also, during the year, I worked on the Bayley Silleck
documentary, which focused on the business end of Bannermans. In
addition, a group of West Point cadets redesigned and rebuilt the
water pumping and storage
systems that Mr. Bannerman once uti- lized on the island. Thanks to
their valu- able contribtuion, we now have pumps, pipes and four
storage tanks in place.
As we closed the island at the end of our 2009 season, we were all
very upbeat and looking forward to the next year. We had had a good
year with the tours and the island’s trails were in the best shape
they had been in years. One major concern was that the south Gap
Tower was in such a deteriorated state that it might collapse from
the force of the winter’s ice. But we were hopeful that it would
make it through the winter and started to plan for next year,
hoping to stabilize it.
All of this changed on December 27th when the first reports came in
that part of the tower had collapsed during the heavy weather of a
nor’easter. I trav- eled to the shore opposite the island to survey
and photograph the conditions. What I saw was so depressing that I
almost could not look at it. As l knew that river conditions
prohibited further inspection, I took some photographs and left.
The collapse made the news and there were many media events to
follow. The Trust soon met with New York State Office of Parks
Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYSOPRHP), Senator Schumer,
Representative Hall and others too seek help and guidance in
planning the continuation of Bannermans.
Southeast view as seen in 1925.
Southwest corner of the tower showing all the details and textures
that Bannerman used.
The inside of the number two arsenal looking west. This image shows
why the ruins are off limits.
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Just as we were getting used to the new look of the tower we had
another round of heavy weather and the tower lost more of its
walls. The first collapse took the southeast corner along with 1/3
of the south wall and 2/3 of the east wall. The collapse on January
26th took the top of the south wall with the Bannerman coat of
arms. Also lost was the entire north wall and what was left of the
east wall. Currently, we have lost about 70% of the tower, leaving
the west wall and only 1/2 of the south wall still standing.
Again there was press coverage and we received many positive
communica- tions from interested parties. This helped to keep our
spirits up and allowed us to move forward. Recently a group of
volunteers and some Trust members rowed out to the island to better
survey the conditions so that we could plan for this year’s tours.
Yes we lost a major part of this Hudson River landmark but we still
have the west wall and we plan to do a laser scan so we can keep an
accurate record of what the walls were like. I also have a large
collection of photographs that will add
to the record. The staff at NYSOPRHP have been supportive and we
will be open this year to continue the tours and projects.
I hope that 2010 will be a “banner” year for the island and the
castle ruins. I hope that all of the press and interest
that the collapse has created will bring many new visitors and some
past visi- tors who are returning to see what has changed. The
Trust has planned some events to help raise money so we can
stabilize and shore up the remaining structures. These events
include a con- cert by Anthony K. at the Chance Theater on March
25th; and the first Bannerman Island Golf Classic, to be
held Monday July 26th at the Powelton Club in Newburgh. We are also
working on a challenge grant that will be used to rehab the
Bannerman residence. One happy event will take place at the Hudson
House River Inn at Cold Spring when we celebrate Jane Campbell
Bannerman’s 100th birthday.
Another positive development is that Senator Schumer has requested
one million dollars for the restoration project. There are many
ways that citizens can help. We need volunteers to work on both the
gardens and as tour guides. We also need the public’s support at
all our various fundraisers as well as partici- pating in all the
various tours.
What’s next? Good question. All I know is that anything that was
built can be replaced. Mr. Bannerman built his busi- ness and the
castle by reusing old mili- tary goods. He “recycled” before the
word was created and he knew that much of what he sold had great
histori- cal value. At his store at 501 Broadway in New York City,
he maintained a museum of military equipment that he called the
Museum of Lost Arts. His goal was to use historic military equip-
ment in such a way to cause us to ponder and to teach us the
futility of practicing war. Please visit and support his—and
our—efforts.
Thom Johnson was the art, photogra- phy and tech theatre teacher at
the Irvington High School for over 30 years. He also is one of the
founders of the Bannerman Castle trust, a tour guide and has been
photographing the island for almost 40 years. His recent book on
the island was published in 2008.
Thom Johnson during his slide show/lecture at the Beczak Center on
February 4th.
Shot from the inside of the number two arsenal around 25 years
ago.
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Bannermans, A Brief History
Among the hundreds of rivers and streams crisscrossing America, few
can compare with the legend-laden, geo- logically diverse Hudson
River. The homeland of Rip Van Winkle and Ichabod Crane, the Hudson
surges out of the Adirondack Mountains, flowing to the Atlantic
Ocean. The scene of early Dutch & English settlements, the
river has served as an indispensable pathway for moving people and
goods into the North American interior. The impetus for it’s own
school of art, the Hudson seems to have a power of it’s own,
drawing people of all walks of life to it’s shores. A quote from
William G. Scheller in the Greenway Council’s “Report to the People
of the Hudson River Valley, the Governor and the Legislature of New
York State,” describes the river best:
“Broad, silent, and powerful, the Hudson flows through time as
easily as through the counties of eastern New York State, and in
the mind’s eye it can float a tall Dutch ship as easily as a little
green canoe.”
Singularly unique among the Hudson’s lavish and varied features,
Pollepel Island perches between the northern reaches of the
Highlands and
Newburgh Bay. A craggy, thickly shrubbed hill now commonly referred
to as Bannermans, the island has been the subject of legend and
wild rumors since earliest times. Many Indian tribes believed it
haunted and refused to set foot on it, thus it became a place of
ref-
uge for those trying to escape attacks. Other tribes routinely
visited with the sun, but avoided it at night. While still other
tribes utilized its 115-foot-high natural lookout for ambushing
unwary river travelers. And while extensive excavations have
revealed well-devel- oped, permanent Indian encampments on both
banks, very few Indian artifacts have actually been found on the
island
itself, perhaps indicating an early impression of the islands
inhospitable nature.
While the early Dutch explorers of the region had their tales and
legends of the surrounding land, the later settlers
and sailors lived in mortal terror of the Heer of Dunderberg, a
fiend and his goblins who inhabited the Highlands and made
themselves known by the treacherous winds that blew between and
around the mountains. According to legend, the northern limits of
their jurisdiction was Pollepel Island - from there north sailing
was safe and easy. Therefore, new sailors to the River were
inoculated against these evil spirits by being doused in the River
as their boats passed Pollepel. The less super- stitious rigged
their masts without a rake but perpendicular to the deck so they
could shorten the sail quickly in the gusty storms of the
area.
During the black squalls that came in the spring, the old rivermen
claimed to hear the shouted orders of the long- dead Captain of the
“Flying Dutchman,” which was sunk on the flats south of the Island
in the early eighteenth century.
Lying in a strategic spot on the river, the Island figured
prominently during the revolutionary war. The British calcu- lated
that if they could control the river they could cut the colonies in
half and end the rebellion. As the British slowly invaded
northwards, the Americans, with varying degrees of success,
block-
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continued on page 10
aded the Highlands to prevent further movement into the interior.
Several miles south of the Island, the rebels erected a great chain
boom, stretching between what is now West Point and Constitution
Island. Remnants of this chain can still be seen at the U.S.
Military Academy Museum at West Point. Further upstream, a Chevaux
de Frise, an underwater obstruction designed to impale and sink
approach- ing vessels, was constructed on the west bank between
Pollepel and Plum Point. Unfortunately, the British were able to
pass this defense with ease and there are conflicting reports that
American traitors partly dismantled the obstruction and/or revealed
the pas- sage left open for river traffic.
In 1781, proposals were made and approved by General George
Washington to build a military prison and to store munitions on the
Island. While construction was started, there is little evidence
that the prison was ever used or even completed, although it’s
reported that Hessian soldiers were imprisoned there and after the
war were offered land to settle in Pennsylvania. After the
revolutionary war, the Island was used as a local fisherman’s
headquarters and as a pic- nic, swimming and camping spot for
neighboring villagers.
In 1888, Mr. Thomas Taft, of teetotaler fame, purchased the island
to prevent its being used as an operations base for the black
market liquor trade. In 1900, Francis Bannerman and Sons purchased
the Island, thinking it an iso- lated place and ideal for the
storage of their large artillery stock.
Bannerman and Sons was founded in 1865 at the close of the Civil
War by Frank Bannerman, then only 14 years old. Born in Dundee,
Scotland, his fam- ily immigrated to this country and set- tled in
Brooklyn, NY, when he was three. As a child, young Frank would
accompany his father, a buyer of chan- dlery goods, to Navy
auctions. When his father joined the Union Army during the Civil
War, school-age Frank began a business of collecting all types
of
scrap. When the war ended, Frank began purchasing quantities of
surplus military equipment at government auc- tions. He continued
to expand and diversify his business until he was an
internationally known armorer. After the Spanish War, among the
surplus acquired was 90% of the captured equipment and ammunition,
which the New York City government wisely would not permit to be
stored within the city limits. Early in 1900, searching for a safe
and secure storage space, Pollepel Island was bought from the
Taft’s.
A student and collector of antiquity, Frank Bannerman conceived and
drew plans for a large storehouse with water- front landings and a
family home on top of the hill, both to be built in the style of
old Scottish castles. Following con- struction of the Number 1
storehouse on the north side of the Island, docks and breakwaters
were formed by sink- ing old barges with stones, and, after they
settled, covering them with con- crete. Small crenelated towers
were placed at the corners, forming protect- ed entrances to the
harbor. From 1901, until his death in 1918, Francis Bannerman
continued construction. Under his personal supervision the Island
structures grew to include 3 storehouses, a personal residence,
workshops, residence apartments for the workmen, a powder house, an
ice house, a huge garden walkway, plus docks, turrets and towers,
all surround- ed by strategically located cannon emplacements and
all built to elaborate
detail and without professional assis- tance from architects,
engineers or contractors. Though never actually completed to Mr.
Bannermans specifi- cations, the Island became a bit of Scotland,
seemingly plucked out of the Scottish Highlands and deposited on a
bare bit of rock mid-river. Arriving at the main landing, visitors
climbed a steep walk between the arsenal, workshop and
superintendent’s building, then crossed over a drawbridge and
passed beneath an arch with portcullis and a coat of arms. Past the
storehouse on the north side, terraces were laid out for gardens.
At the top of the winding path, bordered by shrubs and tiny hill-
side gardens, overlooking it all was the Bannermans
residence.
Incidents concerning the Island in the last century are many and
mostly trag- ic: The cannon being tested against the mountain
jumped and its shell went over the mountain and through a near- by
barn. The workman melting scrap metal put live ammunition in the
melting pot with resultant disaster. The castle was often known to
have as many as fifteen flags flying about it; however, lightning
struck down the flag poles so frequently that it became impractical
to replace more than a few of them. Then, on a hot summer day in
1920, a tre- mendous explosion wrecked the arse- nal. Two hundred
pounds of powder and shells stored in a powder house exploded,
heaving a barrage of brick, munitions and equipment high into the
summer sky. A twenty-five foot section
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of high stone wall was blown to the mainland, blocking the New York
Central railroad tracks. The castle was considerably damaged, while
one of the towers, along with a corner of the Island itself, was
blown far out into the river. Cities and villages along the river
between Hudson and Peekskill were shaken by the explosion and
hundreds of window panes were smashed. Further incidents were to
come; in 1950, a tremendous storm wrecked the “Pollepel,” which had
served the Island as a freight and passenger boat for fifty years.
The final blow was a fire and explosion on the Island in 1969. Even
though the Island was now deserted, having been sold to the state
the previ- ous year, officials speculated that the explosions and
accompanying fifty-
foot-high flames could only have been the result of old shells
still lost in the debris. The fire was allowed to burn itself out,
inflicting serious structural damage to the castle interior and
leav- ing the wreck that is visible today.
Nowadays, as the signs attest, Bannermans is closed to the public
due to extremely hazardous conditions, and can only be visited by
pre-arranged tours. Nevertheless, its spooky visage and macabre
past continue to draw the curious like a magnet, or perhaps like a
moth to the flame. The best way to see the Island up close, without
actually landing, is from a small hand powered
vessel (canoe or kayak). Gliding sound- lessly beneath the arched
eastern gate into the breakwater, you get your first really closeup
view of the castle and grounds. Very little is left of the original
breakwater fortifications. Remnants of ruined bulkheads lie scant
inches beneath the water, so you must paddle slowly and carefully
through the debris- laden harbor. The crenelated towers at the far
corners still stand, but who knows for how much longer. Of the
castle itself, nothing remains but a tow- ering saga of rack &
ruin, a carcass of crumbling concrete and twisted metal. Even with
the interior long gone, the exterior walls provide a stark reminder
of the elaborate details that went into construction. Barely
protruding behind years of dense thicket, the arched gate is only
partially visible, as is the owner’s residence high atop the
hillside. The drawbridge and portcullis are long gone; as are the
workshops, residenc- es and other buildings strewn, in bits and
pieces about the island and sur- rounding waters.
If one day you are fortunate and able to take this kayak trip, and
you find your- self sitting quietly, gently rocking in the languid
waters around the castle, don’t be surprised if you feel the past
nudge a little closer, peer over your shoulder and impart the
distinct sensation that this land does not bid you welcome.
Perhaps, given the long and tragic his- tory of the Island, this
chilling feeling was preordained. Maybe the island, and not the
towering mountains of the region, is home to the Heer of Dunderberg
and his goblin friends. Just maybe, the series of violent incidents
were really a warning that this is a spot where man does not
belong.
“…No one can tell what associations and incidents will involve the
Island in the future. Time, the elements, and maybe even the
goblins of the Highlands, will take their toll on some of the
turrets and towers, and perhaps eventually the castle itself; but
the little Island will always have its place in his- tory and will
be forever, we hope, a jewel in its Highland setting,”—Francis
Bannerman and Sons.
Bannermans, A Brief History continued from page 9
Sebago’s All Club Invitational, July 17th, 2010l
Phil Giller
The Sebago Canoe Club in Brooklyn, New York, is very proud to
announce its “All Club Invitational,” a totally free event, on
Sunday, July 17, 10am – 5pm. This will be a gathering of human
powered boaters on Jamaica Bay, part of the Gateway National
Recreation Area—a 16,000 acre expanse, with miles of open water,
salt marshes, duck marshes, islands, beaches… all teem- ing with
wildlife. Join us for the day and explore the bay (part of the
NY-NJ Harbor estuary) either on your own, or take a guided trip
lead by various Sebago Club members.
Come meet and paddle with kayakers, canoeists, outrigger canoeist,
sunfish sailors, laser sailors, rowers, row-boat- ers, and scull
and dragon boaters from the tri-state area—plus a few surprises. If
your boat is human powered come and say hello to old friends, meet
new friends, and learn about the ecology of the estuary and bay,
all while having fun on the water. There will be food, fun, and
education for all.
Sebago is accessible by public trans- portation and by car or
truck. Free parking is available for cars and trailers. Overnight
parking for trailers is avail- able. We can launch any human pow-
ered boat of any size.
For full details, check our website around the middle of June: www.
sebagocanoeclub.org For additional information contact
allclub@sebagoca- noeclub.org. Please send us your group contact
information so we can personally invite you to this event. Let’s
make this the largest gathering of human powered boats ever seen on
Jamaica Bay.
This event is sponsored by the Sebago Canoe Club and the NY-NJ
Harbor Estuary Program in partnership with the New England
Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission.
H.R.W.A. H.R.W.A.H.R.W.A. H.R.W.A. 11
Gail Cashen
The Hudson River lost a great friend when Ian Giddy passed away in
the summer of 2009. If he had only been the author of the Hudson
River Water Trail Guide, he would have deserved great honor. Now in
its sixth edition, it has opened doors to the Hudson for paddlers,
sailors, and rowers from all over the country; many power boat
enthusiasts also consult our wonderful Guide as well. But there was
much more to Ian.
At our first meeting, Ian had a large personal impact on me. In the
fall of 1985 I had just retired, and on a chilly November morning I
joined a group of paddlers for a trip across the river from
Rhinecliff and up the Rondout. Ian, as the group’s organizer,
provided fasci- nating commentary along the way from his
Feathercraft. He told us about the Creek itself, its history, and
the com- mercial activity of the area, past and present, including
the locks which had been developed to bring coal from Pennsylvania.
I’d never been in a kayak and was rowing an Adirondack guide- boat,
but it is too difficult for me to car- top alone, so I was pleased
to meet up with others on the river for help in get- ting the boat
on and off the car and delighted to hear what he had to say.
Perhaps that was one reason when, the next spring, my husband and I
decided to buy kayaks, we settled on Feathercrafts, just like
Ian’s. I immedi- ately joined the HRWA and have been an active
member ever since.
Ian’s commitment to the environment was not restricted to the
Hudson. Several years ago, he and a long-time friend, Jenny
O’Grady, also originally from South Africa, married and com- bined
families, joining Ian’s two daugh- ters and Jenny’s two sons. Soon
after, he and Jenny founded two nature reserves, first Cloudbridge
in Costa Rica and then Wildcliff in South Africa. Today these two
not-for-profit pre- serves are helping to save pristine areas and
providing opportunities for important research. Ian was a commit-
ted hiker and was enthusiastic about what he and Jenny were able to
do.
It wasn’t always easy to catch up with Ian, especially after he and
Jenny began collaborating on these numerous projects. In addition
to paddling, hiking, biking, traveling, and establishing two
extensive research properties, along with maintaining an apartment
in New York and a house in Rhinecliff, they began to renovate
properties in a neglected area of Kingston. Ian, a Professor of
Finance at NYU’s Stern School, continued to keep a busy schedule of
writing, consulting in the US and the Far East (sometimes
accompanied by his Feathercraft), and teaching and mentoring
students in his professorial role. He was also a notable nature
photographer and had very high standards, quick to turn his bright
blue eyes on a questionable statement or sloppy work.
Ian was entirely comfortable with tech- nology and enjoyed
documenting pro- fessional and personal activities and sharing them
with friends and family. Moments after their beautiful wedding
ceremony in Rhinecliff, Ian collected digital cameras from the
guests and put the photos on his laptop in a slide show for
everyone to enjoy! Visit www. giddy.net for a full range of Ian and
Jenny’s interests. Ian provided a wonderful legacy for everyone. He
left us too soon.
Gail Cashen has been a member of HRWA since 1996 and has served as
Treasurer, Vice President, and President.
Sebago Canoe Club
Phil Giller
The Sebago Canoe Club is a cultural, educational and recreational
resource for New York City small boat enthusi- asts. We are proud
of our 75 year his- tory and we continue to attract mem- bers of
every age and interest and from every ethnic backgound and
financial group. Sebago has provided instruction and coaching for
thousands of adults and young people. We continue to serve the
community with programs which include biweekly kayak trips on the
bay and metro area inter-club invi- tational events.
The Sebago Canoe Club was founded in 1933, and is one of the oldest
canoe clubs in the Northeast and our club- house stands on an acre
of land that was once a summer encampment of the Canarsie Indians.
Our canoe club was originally based on Lake Sebago in Harriman
State Park where we contin- ue to maintain rustic cabin facilities
as part of the American Canoe Association camp. Sebago Canoe Club
is open year round to its membership and by appointment to those
interested in membership. We welcome anyone interested in the wide
range of pad- dlesports. Contact our Membership Chair for more
information. The Sebago Canoe Club is a volunteer run, 501C3
nonprofit, membership organization in Canarsie, Brooklyn. Our
members include kayakers, canoeists, sailors, rowers, and flatwater
racers. Available to our membership is the use of the clubhouse and
club boats, boat stor- age, instruction programs in sea kayak- ing,
sailing, and flatwater racing, and a cabin on Lake Sebago in
Harriman State Park. Our Paerdegat Basin facility offers direct
access to the beautiful waters of Jamaica Bay.
Hudson River Watertrail Association
Hudson River Watertrail Association, Inc. Box 110, 245 Eighth
Avenue New York, NY 10011 www.hrwa.org/
HRWA Membership Application
Type of Membership: New __________ Renewal__________
Basic $35 Renewal $25 Contributor $100
Patron $500 Saint $1, 000 Archangel $5,000
Send to: Hudson River Watertrail Association
Box 110, 245 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10011
HRWA notes